Things to Do in the Dolomites: The Most Beautiful Places & Peaks

What Are the Dolomites?

The Dolomites are a mountain range in the Alps, whose rock consists largely of dolomite — a geological composition that’s truly unique in this form.

What makes them so striking is their extraordinary shapes — rugged, jagged rock faces rising dramatically out of green mountain landscapes.

But it’s not just the shape. The colors are something else entirely. When the sun rises in the morning or sets in the evening, it bathes the peaks in a gorgeous shade of pink. That’s why, in our eyes, the Dolomites rank among the most beautiful places in the world.

Where Are the Dolomites Located?

The Dolomites sit in the Alps — the majority in Italy, though there’s also a small Dolomites region in Austria. In this article, we focus exclusively on the Italian Dolomites.

On the map, the Dolomites are marked in teal. For easier orientation, we’ve also marked the most beautiful towns (teal) and the most important attractions (gray) on the map.

Attractions in the Dolomites

Here are the most beautiful places to visit in the Dolomites — the highlights you absolutely shouldn’t miss on your vacation in the Dolomites.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo

What you need to know: The Tre Cime di Lavaredo are the most iconic massif in the Dolomites, and their unmistakable silhouette is the reason why. There’s a roughly 10-kilometer circular trail around the three peaks with stunning views the whole way. You’ll pass several mountain huts along the route where you can grab a meal or even spend the night.

Is it worth it? Absolutely. The Tre Cime di Lavaredo are simply something special, and the circular trail is one of the most beautiful hikes in South Tyrol. Fair warning though — the area gets seriously crowded. Getting there early in the morning makes a real difference.

Our tip: Spend a night in one of the mountain huts at the Tre Cime. That way you get to experience both the sunrise and the sunset — totally worth it.

Lake Braies

What you need to know: Lake Braies is a mountain lake in the Dolomites and one of the most photographed spots in the region — and it’s easy to see why. The water shimmers in intense colors and the Dolomite peak Seekofel reflects perfectly in its surface. You can go boating on the lake or walk the 3.6-kilometer loop around it.

Is it worth it? Yes — without exaggeration, Lake Braies is an absolute natural wonder. Your best bet is to visit early in the morning in spring or fall, when it’s a little less busy.

Our tip: If you’re an experienced hiker, don’t skip the ascent of the Seekofel. It’s strenuous and takes seven to eight hours, but the panorama from the top is absolutely worth it.

Lake Carezza & Rosengarten

What you need to know: Lake Carezza is smaller than Lake Braies — the loop around it is just 1.2 kilometers. It sits right next to the Rosengarten, a massif that’s great for both hiking and skiing.

Is it worth it? Totally! Both Lake Carezza and the Rosengarten are well worth a visit. Just be aware that this area also gets quite busy.

Our tip: Since Lake Carezza is especially popular, visit it first thing in the morning and then head into the Rosengarten for a hike — for example, up to the Aquila di Christommanos.

Marmolada

What you need to know: At 3,343 meters, the Marmolada is the highest peak in the Dolomites. Right at its base sits the Lago di Fedaia reservoir, and from there you can take a cable car up to the Marmolada’s observation platform. There’s also a fascinating museum nearby: the Museum Marmolada Great War 3000 M.

Is it worth it? Yes, absolutely — the views are incredible. The museum, which focuses on World War I, is genuinely interesting too.

Our tip: Museum admission is included with your cable car ticket. There are two cable cars going up: one from the village of Malga Ciapela and one from Lago di Fedaia.

Alpe di Siusi & Schlern

What you need to know: The Alpe di Siusi is Europe’s largest alpine meadow — and a dream for anyone who loves mountains. You can walk, hike, or bike across the meadow, always with the Dolomites as your backdrop. The standout feature is the Schlern, a peak with a truly distinctive silhouette that you can also summit.

Is it worth it? Yes, the Alpe di Siusi is one of the top things to do in South Tyrol — in both winter and summer. The hike up the Schlern is tough, but for experienced hikers it’s a real highlight.

Our tip: If you’re planning to hike the Schlern and driving there, you need to be at the Compatsch parking lot — where the roughly 17-kilometer hike starts — before 9 AM.

Puez-Geisler Nature Park

What you need to know: Puez-Geisler Nature Park is great for all kinds of mountain activities. It’s easily accessible by cable car or on foot from the Val Gardena. The Seceda is the star of the show — a seriously photogenic ridge that’s become an Instagram favorite. But there’s also hiking, mountain biking, skiing in winter, and paragliders are often out and about here too.

Is it worth it? Yes — Puez-Geisler Nature Park is honestly one of our favorite hiking areas in the Dolomites.

Our tip: We did the hike to the Col dala Pieres summit starting from St. Christina. Super strenuous and challenging, but the view from the top is absolutely amazing.

Valparola Pass

What you need to know: The Valparola Pass is a stunning mountain road connecting the regions of South Tyrol and Veneto. It’s especially popular with motorcyclists, but it’s absolutely worth doing by car too. The pass played a major strategic role in World War I, and you can learn more about that at the Forte Tre Sassi war museum along the road.

Is it worth it? Yes, the road is great for a road trip and there are some excellent hikes along the way too. We found the museum a bit pricey at 12 euros admission — but that’s a matter of taste.

Our tip: Stop at the Lagazuoi cable car and ride it up to the mountain station. From there you can walk to Monte Lagazuoi Piccolo.

The Most Beautiful Towns in the Dolomites

The Dolomites are home mainly to villages and small towns. Here are what we consider the most beautiful bases for a vacation in the Dolomites — each one a great place to stay while you explore the surrounding peaks.

Also read our tips on the most beautiful towns in South Tyrol

Cortina d'Ampezzo

What you need to know: Cortina d’Ampezzo sits in the middle of the Belluno Dolomites and is well known as a premier ski resort. The surrounding area offers endless winter sports options, and as a result Cortina has a huge variety of places to stay.

Highlights near Cortina d’Ampezzo: the three ski areas — Faloria-Cristallo, Tofana, and Lagazuoi-5 Torri.

Our hotel pick: The Hotel de Len is right in the heart of Cortina and features a great wellness area and beautiful rooms.

Toblach

What you need to know: Toblach is something like the gateway to the Dolomites in South Tyrol. From here you can reach the Sexten Dolomites with the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Lake Braies, and the charming small town of Bruneck in no time. Despite its fantastic location, Toblach isn’t a typical tourist hotspot and has stayed genuinely authentic.

Highlights near Toblach: Toblacher See, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Lake Braies

Our hotel pick: The Hotel Rosengarten is a lovely place to stay just outside Toblach — warm family atmosphere, a wonderful breakfast, and great service.

Wolkenstein

What you need to know: Wolkenstein is located in the Val Gardena — one of the most beautiful valleys in South Tyrol. It’s a small village surrounded by Dolomite peaks and ski areas, with fantastic hiking right on its doorstep. No wonder it’s such a popular base year-round, in both summer and winter.

Highlights near Wolkenstein: Seceda, Alpe di Siusi, Sassolungo, and Sassopiatto

Our hotel pick: We love the Linder Cycling Hotel. Whether it’s the rooms, the wellness area, or the breakfast — everything is just right here.

Travel Tips for Your Vacation in the Dolomites

Here are a few important pointers to help you make the most of your time in the Dolomites.

Where to Stay in the Dolomites?

There are so many beautiful hotels in the Dolomites. In our article on the best hotels in the Dolomites, we share our nine top recommendations.

Best Time to Visit the Dolomites

You can visit the Dolomites year-round. Since the rock faces are generally very steep, most peaks are never completely covered in snow — so you’ll see them in all their glory even in winter.

Beyond that, it really depends on what you want to do. For hiking, we recommend June through October — during those months, most massifs have little or no snow.

For winter sports, ski season runs from December through March.

Keep in mind: No matter when you visit, always pack warm layers. Even in summer, it gets quite cool and windy up near the peaks.

Getting Around the Dolomites

The most flexible way to explore the Dolomites is by car. From Munich, the drive to Cortina d’Ampezzo takes only about 4.5 hours.

A great alternative for a summer vacation in South Tyrol is a motorcycle. It saves you parking costs and lets you filter past traffic — very typically Italian.

Public Transportation in the Dolomites

There’s also a bus network in the Dolomites. That said, traveling by bus takes a bit longer and you’re tied to departure times. In summer, the buses can get very crowded.

Since the Dolomites span several regions of Italy, the operators vary too. More information and bus schedules can be found here:

• Südtirolmobil App: all buses in South Tyrol in real time (you can also buy tickets here).
• Mio Trentino App: bus connections in Trentino

In the Veneto region and around Cortina d’Ampezzo, various bus companies operate. You can find an overview of the bus operators here.